Categories

What Does a Lens Hood Do?

What does a lens hood do? Do you need it? When should you use it and when not? These are some of the most common questions we get from readers who are rather confused if they must use the lens hood to capture the best shots. Today, we’d like to answer these questions so that you can be enlightened and understand this camera component better.

In photography, it’s also called a lens shade, a device that photographers use on the front end of their lens in order to block light sources, including the sun. It prevents lens flare and glare. Commonly, the lens hood also keeps the lens from the elements and scratches without the pros using a lens cover to do it.Things you’ll need
• A camera

Instruction about a Lens Hood Do

Know the purpose of the lens hood. First, it’s a plastic material to clip onto the front of your device. It usually extends beyond the camera. They are used for two main purposes. As said, they’re to reduce the flare from the lens. Second, they protect the lens from scratches and other damaging elements. While its primary purpose is to minimize the flare, it also provides the beneficial protection for the lens.

Understand the shapes available. You will find the camera hood in many shapes, sometimes even funny ones. One of the most typical is the petal lens hood. This type lets it extend as far beyond as possible – beyond your lens – except they don’t show up in the frame. The lenses are circular. The photos you take are rectangular. So if the petal shaped hoods would be round, then you’ll capture them in the photos. However, not all hoods are petal shaped because some are enclosed even without the cutout appearance.

When you see one, take note that it is the round camera hood. Many prime camera lenses have the round types more than zooms. The main reason is that they do not require added difficulty of staying out the way while your camera is zooming out the subject.
Know if you need to use a lens hood. The short answer is “Yes, you must.” You should always have it on your camera when taking pictures. Even if you can produce amazing shots without one, the color and contrast will be reduced if any light source such as the sun bounces into your lens from its sides. But then, there are camera lenses that don’t really need a hood. For example, if the lens already has a plastic extending behind the glass, making it recessed, you don’t need one. In that case, the lens already serves two purposes – as the lens hood and the lens. While there is nothing wrong of using a hood on it, such is unnecessary.

Know if the High-Speed-Camera already has a lens hood or you need to get one. There are models, which lenses already include a hood, while others do not. Top brands provide a lens hood in some of their models. So if you want a lens hood and your camera does not have it, you need to buy one.

What kind of hood should you buy? Consider this well because not all hoods will work for all situations. Get one based on the type of lens you have. In that case, you have to know that the 24-105 zoom is very different from a camera with a 16-35 zoom. They don’t require the same camera hood.

Why is that so? They don’t have the same circumference on their front lenses and the same zooming range. In that case, the cutout should be different. The wider the viewing angle will further back the cutout requires. But it does not mean getting the most expensive lenses. The bottom line, make sure that the hood you’re getting suit the kind of lens you’re using.

Do you want to take good headshots? Then figuring out whether to use the lens hood or not is another important matter to discuss. The answer here is “Yes.” In fact, the pros even recommend of having it on all the time to prevent astray light on your lens. If it does, the contrast in the image will be reduced. It is also recommended to keeping your lenses clean, as it can make the big difference in increasing contrast and preventing lens flare as well. But as exception, there are times when you need the flare. For one, you need it when you’re using the pop-up flash on your device, as the light from it will be blocked by the hood. As a result, there will be a shadow produced right in the bottom of the photo.

Final Thoughts

Understanding “what does a lens hood do,” you’ll protect your camera lenses from elemental damage and scratches, keep the flare out and understand when to and when not to use a camera lens hood for your device. It also pays off learning what kind of hood to get for your camera, which does not have the same lens circumference and zooming ranges.

Did you find this tutorial useful? Tell us in the comment section! Finally, sharing is caring. Spread the word about this article with friends today!

AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

https://thetechrun.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, endless.com, smallparts.com, myhabit.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.